Kennel Cough in Dogs: Symptoms, Recovery Time and When to Worry

What it usually means

Kennel cough is the everyday name for canine infectious respiratory disease complex, a group of infections of the windpipe and airways. The AKC explains it is usually caused by a mix of germs, with the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica and viruses such as canine parainfluenza and canine adenovirus type 2 among the common culprits, sometimes together. The infection inflames the airway lining, which triggers the cough.

It spreads through airborne droplets, close contact and shared bowls, toys and bedding, which is why it moves quickly through boarding kennels, daycares, grooming salons, shelters and dog parks. VCA notes that dogs can spread it before they show any signs, so a kennel can do everything right and still see cases. Signs usually start 2 to 14 days after exposure.

Kennel cough symptoms

The hallmark is a loud, dry, hacking cough that many owners describe as a goose honk, often followed by gagging or retching up a little white foam, which can look like vomiting. The cough is often worse with excitement, exercise or pressure on the throat from a collar. Other signs can include sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes, mild tiredness and sometimes a low fever or reduced appetite.

Many dogs with kennel cough feel fairly well apart from the cough, keep eating and still want to play. A cough has many other causes, though, including collapsing trachea in small breeds, heart disease, canine influenza, heartworm and something stuck in the throat, so a cough that does not fit the usual pattern deserves a vet check.

When to call your vet today

Call your vet if your dog's cough lasts more than a week or two, is getting worse rather than better, or comes with nasal discharge that turns thick and yellow or green. Call the same day for a puppy, an older dog, a short-nosed breed, or a dog with heart, lung or immune problems, since they are more likely to develop complications.

Phone before you arrive and say your dog is coughing, so the clinic can keep it away from other patients, and mention any recent boarding, grooming or daycare visits.

When it's an emergency

Go to your vet or the nearest emergency vet immediately if your dog is breathing fast or with effort at rest, has blue, gray or pale gums, a high fever, is weak or lethargic, refuses food, or has a wet, productive cough with labored breathing. These can be signs that the infection has spread to the lungs as pneumonia, which needs prompt treatment.

Also seek urgent care if your dog is coughing up blood, collapses, or cannot settle because of breathing difficulty. A sudden, violent cough with pawing at the mouth may mean something is lodged in the throat.

What you can safely do at home

For a mild case, rest is the main treatment. Keep your dog calm and limit exercise for at least a week, and use a harness instead of a collar so nothing presses on the windpipe. A humidifier or sitting with your dog in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes can loosen the cough. Offer fresh water and tempting food, and keep the house free of smoke and strong sprays.

Keep your dog away from other dogs, including boarding, daycare, groomers and dog parks, until it has fully recovered; the AKC advises avoiding contact for at least two weeks after the cough stops. Do not give human cough syrups, cold medicines or throat lozenges, as many contain ingredients such as xylitol or decongestants that are dangerous to dogs.

What the vet will likely check

Your vet will listen to your dog's chest, check its temperature, and may press gently on the windpipe to see whether it triggers the cough. For a typical mild case in a healthy dog, the diagnosis is often made from the history and exam alone. If the cough is severe or lasting, or your dog seems ill, chest X-rays, blood work or a respiratory panel that tests swabs for specific germs may be recommended.

Most dogs need only rest and time. Your vet may prescribe medicine to ease a cough that keeps your dog awake, or antibiotics if a bacterial infection or pneumonia is suspected. Dogs with pneumonia sometimes need hospital care with oxygen and fluids. Follow your vet's plan and book a recheck if your dog is not improving.

Prevention

Vaccines help. Bordetella, parainfluenza and adenovirus vaccines, some given as drops in the nose, reduce the risk and severity of kennel cough, and many kennels and daycares require them. The AKC notes that Bordetella boosters are typically given every 6 to 12 months, and that vaccines do not cover every germ involved, so a vaccinated dog can still catch a mild form.

During local outbreaks, VCA suggests skipping daycare, boarding, dog parks and shared water bowls, while leashed walks remain fine. Bring your own bowl when out, choose facilities with good ventilation and cleaning routines, and keep coughing dogs at home.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.